Private Investigator Services in Columbus, OH: What an Emmy-Winning Reporter Brings to the Job

Most private investigators come from law enforcement or military backgrounds. Tom Sussi, founder of Tom Sussi Investigations LLC, came from investigative journalism instead, spending more than three decades exposing fraud, corruption, and criminal activity as a reporter before founding his firm in 2017. That background shapes how private investigator services in Columbus, OH get delivered here. This guide covers what that experience translates into for clients.

Quick Answers

Question	Direct Answer
Is Tom Sussi Investigations a licensed firm?	Yes, Tom Sussi is a licensed and insured private investigator operating under the Ohio Department of Public Safety's PI licensing requirements.
What's Tom Sussi's professional background?	A former investigative reporter who won seven regional Emmy Awards over a three-decade career before founding the firm in 2017.
What types of cases are handled?	Mostly infidelity, child custody, and cohabitation cases, plus work for criminal defense and personal injury attorneys and skip tracing.
Does the firm work with attorneys?	Yes, gathering evidence for criminal defense and personal injury attorneys is a core part of the practice.
Where is the firm based?	Columbus, OH, serving Central Ohio and taking cases from out-of-state attorneys with Ohio matters.

A Journalism Background Applied to Investigations

Why does a reporting background matter for private investigation work? Both jobs require finding facts, verifying sources, and following a trail that doesn't always lead where it first appears to. Licensed private investigator in Columbus, OH Tom Sussi built a career on exactly that kind of persistence, earning seven regional Emmys for exposing fraudulent enterprises and criminal activity across Ohio, Michigan, Pittsburgh, and Florida before turning that skill set toward private investigation in 2017.

Credentials Behind the Work

Tom holds an associate's degree in criminal justice from Mott Community College and a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism from Michigan State University. He's a member of the Ohio Association of Security & Investigation Services, the Ohio Private Investigator & Security Guard Services, and the Paralegal Association of Central Ohio. Licensing for private investigators in Ohio is overseen by the Ohio Department of Public Safety's PISGS division.

Infidelity, Child Custody, and Cohabitation Investigations in Columbus, OH

What makes infidelity and custody cases different from other investigative work? The emotional stakes are higher, which changes how the investigation needs to be handled. Infidelity investigations in Columbus, OH rely on discreet, advanced surveillance techniques designed to protect the client's privacy throughout the process. Child custody investigations in Columbus, OH take a similarly careful approach, with a stated priority on the child's well-being alongside gathering the evidence needed to support a case. Cohabitation investigations in Columbus, OH document whether a former spouse receiving spousal support is living with a new partner, which can matter when a support order allows modification.

Case Type	What's Involved	Who It's For
Infidelity investigations	Discreet undercover surveillance	Individuals seeking clarity in a relationship
Child custody investigations	Evidence gathering with a focus on child well-being	Parents in custody disputes
Cohabitation investigations	Documenting whether a former spouse lives with a new partner	People paying spousal support, and their attorneys
Background checks and skip tracing	Background research and locating hard-to-find people	Individuals and attorneys
Attorney services	Evidence gathering for criminal defense and personal injury cases	Attorneys and legal teams

Here's roughly how a new case typically begins:

Step	What Happens	Why It Matters
1. Free consultation	Discuss the facts of your case confidentially	Determines the right investigative approach
2. Case planning	Tom outlines the investigative strategy	Sets expectations before work begins
3. Investigation	Surveillance, research, or evidence gathering as needed	Uses advanced techniques with discretion
4. Reporting	Findings are communicated clearly throughout the process	Keeps clients informed rather than left waiting

Working with an attorney on a case that needs outside investigation? See the full range of services before reaching out.

Background Investigation Services and Skip Tracing

Background investigation services in Columbus, OH help individuals and attorneys get a clear picture of who they're dealing with, whether that's a new partner in a family matter or a witness in a legal case. Skip tracing, locating individuals who are difficult to find, uses the same investigative persistence applied to locating missing witnesses or subjects.

Support for Criminal Defense and Personal Injury Attorneys

How does a private investigator help an attorney's case? Criminal defense and personal injury attorneys bring in Tom Sussi Investigations to gather evidence, locate witnesses, and verify the facts a case depends on. Tom's background verifying sources as a journalist carries directly into this side of the practice, and the firm also takes Ohio-related cases for out-of-state attorneys.

Common Mistakes People Make Before Hiring a PI

A few patterns show up often with clients new to hiring an investigator. Waiting too long to document a concern is common, since evidence and details fade or disappear over time. Trying to conduct surveillance personally before calling a professional is another, which can tip off the subject and compromise the case. And assuming every investigator operates the same way is a mistake too, since licensing, discretion, and communication style vary significantly between firms.

NEED ANSWERS YOU CAN TRUST?

Call Tom Sussi Investigations at (614) 779-1885 or contact the firm online for a free consultation in Columbus, OH.

Summary

Tom Sussi Investigations LLC provides licensed private investigator services in Columbus, OH and Central Ohio, focused on infidelity, child custody, and cohabitation investigations, along with evidence gathering for criminal defense and personal injury attorneys and skip tracing. Founder Tom Sussi is a former Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter with more than three decades of experience uncovering fraud and corruption, and he founded the firm in 2017. He holds a degree in criminal justice and a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism, and is a member of the Ohio Association of Security & Investigation Services.

Key Takeaways

• Private investigator services in Columbus, OH from Tom Sussi Investigations are led by a former Emmy-winning investigative reporter.

• Tom Sussi is licensed and insured, operating under Ohio's PI licensing requirements.

• Infidelity and child custody investigations both rely on discreet, careful surveillance techniques.

• Cohabitation investigations help people paying spousal support document a former spouse's living arrangement.

• Background checks and skip tracing support both individual clients and attorneys.

• The firm regularly supports criminal defense and personal injury attorneys with evidence gathering.

• Tom Sussi Investigations was founded in 2017 and serves Columbus and Central Ohio.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Tom Sussi Investigations licensed in Ohio?

Yes, the firm operates as a licensed and insured private investigator under Ohio Department of Public Safety requirements.

Do you handle cases outside Columbus?

Yes, the firm serves Central Ohio broadly and also takes on Ohio-related cases for out-of-state attorneys.

How discreet is an infidelity investigation?

Investigations are conducted using advanced surveillance techniques designed specifically to protect client privacy throughout the process.

What's involved in a child custody investigation?

Evidence gathering that prioritizes the child's well-being alongside supporting the client's custody case.

How do I start a case?

Call (614) 779-1885 or use the contact form on the website for a free, confidential consultation.